In this weeks digital news, YouTube introduces new AI features on the platform. These new features make it easier for marketers to promote their products and services. New tools coming in the next few months are suggested to include an AI generator for new video topics and ideas related to a product or service. A United Nations report released on the 23rd September. Recommends the creation of a body similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to gather up-to-date information on AI and its risks. The report calls for a new policy dialogue on AI. So that the UN’s 193 members can discuss risks and agree upon actions.
Google Ads announced updates at DMEXCO, including key new features for Performance Max (PMax) campaigns. These include the long-awaited addition of campaign-level negative keywords, rolling out by year-end.
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YouTube’s New AI Tools Could Improve Business Marketing Strategies
YouTube is introducing several new AI features to make it easier for marketers to promote products and services. Announced during the Made on YouTube event on Wednesday. Video makers got a preview of various new tools set to be released in the next few months. With the help of artificial intelligence and an “Inspiration Tab,” video makers will soon be able to create unique video backgrounds and get recommendations for titles, thumbnails, and outlines customized to users’ styles. With distinctive video backgrounds and catchy thumbnails, AI could capture the eyes of potential customers surfing YouTube. Plus, it might even be possible for the AI to generate new ideas for video topics related to a product or service.
The United Nations Wants to Treat AI With the Same Urgency as Climate Change
A United Nations report released today proposes having the international body oversee the first truly global effort for monitoring and governing artificial intelligence. The report, produced by the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Advisory Body on AI. Recommends the creation of a body similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to gather up-to-date information on AI and its risks. The report calls for a new policy dialogue on AI. So that the UN’s 193 members can discuss risks and agree upon actions. It further recommends that the UN take steps to empower poorer nations. Especially those in the global south, to benefit from AI and contribute to its governance.
Google Ads announced a number of new features and updates to the ad platform this morning at DMEXCO in Europe.
Google Ads announced updates at DMEXCO, including key new features for Performance Max (PMax) campaigns. These include the long-awaited addition of campaign-level negative keywords, rolling out by year-end. Enhanced insights for PMax campaigns include new asset coverage reporting, impression share data, and target pacing insights. Creative preferences for Demand Gen campaigns are now live, letting advertisers control video placement.
Google is expanding generative AI tools, including asset generation in six new languages (German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and Italian) and conversational experiences in Google Ads. AI-powered image editing, previously in PMax, is now available in Search, Demand Gen, App, and Display campaigns. Additionally, omnichannel bidding and Demand Gen support in Display & Video 360 will be introduced soon. Expanded brand control options, such as applying specific fonts and colours across PMax campaigns, will be fully available next month.
S4 Capital has reported a 13.5% like-for-like net revenue decline in H1 2024
S4 Capital reported a 13.5% like-for-like net revenue decline in H1 2024, falling from £445.5 million to £376.1 million, with actual reported net revenue down 15.6%. Despite a slight increase in billings (0.8%), operational EBITDA dropped 17.5% to £30.1 million. Headcount also fell by 11.7%, reflecting broader economic challenges. Executive chairman Martin Sorrell attributed the downturn to global macroeconomic uncertainty, high interest rates, and reduced spending from tech clients. Debt rose to £182.8 million, partly due to a share buy-back scheme. Despite these challenges, Sorrell maintained profit targets for the year, though he forecast a more significant revenue decline in 2024. The Americas saw a 14.9% fall in revenue, while EMEA and Asia-Pacific also experienced drops. Nonetheless, S4 secured new business from major brands like General Motors, Marriot, and PepsiCo, with a focus on AI-driven hyper-personalisation.
Google Revamps Entire Crawler Documentation
Google have significantly updated their crawler documentation to shrink their main overview page and split the content out into three new, more focused pages. Whilst the content remains substantially the same, the changes include dividing current content into subtopics to make it easier to add more content without overloading the one page with more content. This change by Google offers insight into how site owners could freshen up their pages that have become too comprehensive over time, diluting their ability to perform for specific queries.
Google AI Overviews show more often to signed-in users
New data from BrightEdge shows that Google AI Overviews are shown more often to signed-in users. Whilst this is usually 10-20% less for signed-out users, in the case of ecommerce queries, this can be as much as 90% less often. It was also found that product carousels for apparel-related queries increased by 172% and the use of unordered lists across various industries increased by 42%. What is also notable from the research, is that Google is moving away from consumer-focused blogs and more towards heavily specialised expert sources with high authority and trustworthy domains.
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